This 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

February 15, 2018Graham Slaughter

After selling her house in Toronto, designer Jenn Hannotte started hunting for properties outside the city. That’s when she stumbled on a beautiful little church in the tiny hamlet of Camlachie, Ont. at the southern tip of Lake Huron. Built in 1877, the chapel came with stained glass windows, wooden pews and a collection of old Bibles. Hannotte instantly saw the potential for a cottage transformation and bought the place for just $85,000. After about $70,000 in renovations, Hannotte created a sunny sanctuary in the countryside that preserves the church’s historic charm while giving it a modern facelift.

Home Tours

This 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

February 15, 2018 Graham Slaughter

After selling her house in Toronto, designer Jenn Hannotte started hunting for properties outside the city. That’s when she stumbled on a beautiful little church in the tiny hamlet of Camlachie, Ont. at the southern tip of Lake Huron. Built in 1877, the chapel came with stained glass windows, wooden pews and a collection of old Bibles. Hannotte instantly saw the potential for a cottage transformation and bought the place for just $85,000. After about $70,000 in renovations, Hannotte created a sunny sanctuary in the countryside that preserves the church’s historic charm while giving it a modern facelift.

Window Art

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Window Art

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

In the kitchen, Jenn wanted the colourful stained glass windows to do the talking, so she kept the cabinets white. In her designs, Jenn likes what she calls “a period at the end of a sentence,” so she opted for simple black countertops from IKEA. The appliances — usually the most expensive part of the kitchen — were gifted to her from a client.<br><br>Dreaming of buying a church of your very own? <a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/real-estate/photos/historic-1871-church-for-sale-in-brantford-ontario-price-1-1901200/">This one's up for grabs, and the starting bid is $1</a>. Yep, you read that right.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Window Art

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In the kitchen, Jenn wanted the colourful stained glass windows to do the talking, so she kept the cabinets white. In her designs, Jenn likes what she calls “a period at the end of a sentence,” so she opted for simple black countertops from IKEA. The appliances — usually the most expensive part of the kitchen — were gifted to her from a client.<br><br>Dreaming of buying a church of your very own? <a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/real-estate/photos/historic-1871-church-for-sale-in-brantford-ontario-price-1-1901200/">This one's up for grabs, and the starting bid is $1</a>. Yep, you read that right.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Put a Bird on it

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Put a Bird on it

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

The industrial-style island has lived several lives as both a kids’ art table and Jenn’s work desk. She chose it for the kitchen because of the way the metal reflected the light. The basket below is filled with tablecloths and linens. In the background, a stuffed pheasant, purchased at a barn auction in New York, adds a touch of whimsy.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Put a Bird on it

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The industrial-style island has lived several lives as both a kids’ art table and Jenn’s work desk. She chose it for the kitchen because of the way the metal reflected the light. The basket below is filled with tablecloths and linens. In the background, a stuffed pheasant, purchased at a barn auction in New York, adds a touch of whimsy.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Getting Warmer

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Getting Warmer

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

The breakfast nook is conveniently located above one of the largest furnace vents in the home, making it one of the warmest spots in the winter. On the floor, a cow hide adds a bit of softness. The macrame wall hanging was a lucky find from a Winners in Sarnia.<br><br>Dreaming of a home makeover? These are <a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/decorating/photos/pinterest-predicts-every-new-decorating-trend-youll-see-in-2018-1911991/">all the decorating trends you'll see in 2018</a>.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Getting Warmer

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The breakfast nook is conveniently located above one of the largest furnace vents in the home, making it one of the warmest spots in the winter. On the floor, a cow hide adds a bit of softness. The macrame wall hanging was a lucky find from a Winners in Sarnia.<br><br>Dreaming of a home makeover? These are <a href="http://www.hgtv.ca/decorating/photos/pinterest-predicts-every-new-decorating-trend-youll-see-in-2018-1911991/">all the decorating trends you'll see in 2018</a>.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Preservation Project

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Preservation Project

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

This space in the corner of the room is a great spot for yoga. Jenn included a wall hanging from 10,000 Villages, a gift from her father, because she liked the way the warm colours worked in the space. Below, one of the original church pews was built into the wall as a way to preserve some of the chapel’s character.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Preservation Project

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This space in the corner of the room is a great spot for yoga. Jenn included a wall hanging from 10,000 Villages, a gift from her father, because she liked the way the warm colours worked in the space. Below, one of the original church pews was built into the wall as a way to preserve some of the chapel’s character.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Is That a Flamingo?

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Is That a Flamingo?

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

The artsy windows are more graphic than religious, and the pastel pinks and blues make for a stunning backdrop. Jenn painted the walls a crisp white to accentuate the one-of-a-kind feature.<br><br>Click to tour even more <a href="http://www.greatcanadianhomes.ca/">great Canadian homes</a>.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Is That a Flamingo?

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The artsy windows are more graphic than religious, and the pastel pinks and blues make for a stunning backdrop. Jenn painted the walls a crisp white to accentuate the one-of-a-kind feature.<br><br>Click to tour even more <a href="http://www.greatcanadianhomes.ca/">great Canadian homes</a>.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Keep it Cozy

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Keep it Cozy

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

The church has been transformed into a cottage getaway, which means it has to be cozy. Jenn layered sheepskins and blankets atop a Montauk sofa she picked up for free in Toronto from someone who was getting rid of it. In the background, the pulpit serves no real purpose other than to maintain a piece of the building’s story.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Keep it Cozy

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The church has been transformed into a cottage getaway, which means it has to be cozy. Jenn layered sheepskins and blankets atop a Montauk sofa she picked up for free in Toronto from someone who was getting rid of it. In the background, the pulpit serves no real purpose other than to maintain a piece of the building’s story.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Hey Sister

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Hey Sister

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

On the dining room table, a little nun figurine is placed beside a collection of rocks picked up from the nearby beach. Jenn isn’t particularly religious, but she liked the idea of riffing off religious iconography in the space.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Hey Sister

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On the dining room table, a little nun figurine is placed beside a collection of rocks picked up from the nearby beach. Jenn isn’t particularly religious, but she liked the idea of riffing off religious iconography in the space.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Gospel Time

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Gospel Time

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Along with the pews and pulpit, the church came with all the original letters for this sign, which was used to display the church readings each week. Jenn and her family now use it to write their own original poems.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Gospel Time

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Along with the pews and pulpit, the church came with all the original letters for this sign, which was used to display the church readings each week. Jenn and her family now use it to write their own original poems.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Hanging Out

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Hanging Out

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Opposite the yoga space, Jenn strung up a hammock from Wayfair and some lights for a quiet reading space. The corner is awash in light.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Hanging Out

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Opposite the yoga space, Jenn strung up a hammock from Wayfair and some lights for a quiet reading space. The corner is awash in light.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Lofty Aspirations

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Lofty Aspirations

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

This loft above the chapel was once used by the choir. Now, it’s a bedroom. The lamp at the head of the bed is original to the church, and the bedside basket was purchased from Target.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Lofty Aspirations

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This loft above the chapel was once used by the choir. Now, it’s a bedroom. The lamp at the head of the bed is original to the church, and the bedside basket was purchased from Target.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Laying it Out

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Laying it Out

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Here’s an overview of the space’s open-concept layout, from the perspective of the loft.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Laying it Out

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Here’s an overview of the space’s open-concept layout, from the perspective of the loft.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Family Time

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Family Time

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

For Jenn, having a big, comfortable seating space for her family to gather was important. She pulled in Moroccan blankets, a vintage carpet and plenty of pillows to make the space comfy-cozy. The living room’s accent: the emerald green chair, picked up from IKEA.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Family Time

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For Jenn, having a big, comfortable seating space for her family to gather was important. She pulled in Moroccan blankets, a vintage carpet and plenty of pillows to make the space comfy-cozy. The living room’s accent: the emerald green chair, picked up from IKEA.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Arts and Crafts

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Arts and Crafts

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

The playful brown sofa was a vintage find, and Jenn made the coffee table herself from a slab of marble that had been sitting in her garage forever. The antlers help accentuate the cottage’s country charm.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Arts and Crafts

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The playful brown sofa was a vintage find, and Jenn made the coffee table herself from a slab of marble that had been sitting in her garage forever. The antlers help accentuate the cottage’s country charm.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Window Shopper

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Window Shopper

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Here’s a closer look at the design of the windows, which were installed in the 1940s.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Window Shopper

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Here’s a closer look at the design of the windows, which were installed in the 1940s.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Quiet Time

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Quiet Time

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

This bedroom is in the hall attached to the church. The space was added in the 1970s, which meant it naturally came with wood panelling and odious green carpeting. Jenn divided the space into a bedroom, closets and en suite bathroom. The high ceilings and stained glass window are the most prominent features of the bedroom, which overlooks the sprawling field behind the property.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Quiet Time

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This bedroom is in the hall attached to the church. The space was added in the 1970s, which meant it naturally came with wood panelling and odious green carpeting. Jenn divided the space into a bedroom, closets and en suite bathroom. The high ceilings and stained glass window are the most prominent features of the bedroom, which overlooks the sprawling field behind the property.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Going Vinyl

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Going Vinyl

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Anyone who’s ever installed hardwood floors knows how expensive it can be. Since Jenn was trying to keep costs down, she swallowed her pride and went with vinyl flooring. She admits that it turned out pretty well.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Going Vinyl

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Anyone who’s ever installed hardwood floors knows how expensive it can be. Since Jenn was trying to keep costs down, she swallowed her pride and went with vinyl flooring. She admits that it turned out pretty well.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Wink of Pink

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Wink of Pink

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

The bathroom is cheap and cheerful, thanks to fixtures from IKEA. The pink hand towel is a subtle nod to the pink from the stained glass, and the artwork is a print by Canadian artist Marcel Dzama.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Wink of Pink

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The bathroom is cheap and cheerful, thanks to fixtures from IKEA. The pink hand towel is a subtle nod to the pink from the stained glass, and the artwork is a print by Canadian artist Marcel Dzama.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Original Art

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Original Art

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

In the kitchen, the stools are splattered with colourful paint from their years in an art room. The seats perfectly accentuate the kaleidoscopic light that filters into the room, while adding to the no-fuss cottage vibe.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Original Art

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In the kitchen, the stools are splattered with colourful paint from their years in an art room. The seats perfectly accentuate the kaleidoscopic light that filters into the room, while adding to the no-fuss cottage vibe.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Cork and Marble

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Cork and Marble

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

These cute little canisters were picked up from a grocery store. Similar to the stools, Jenn liked the way that they played off the windows’ colours.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Cork and Marble

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These cute little canisters were picked up from a grocery store. Similar to the stools, Jenn liked the way that they played off the windows’ colours.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Life in Plastic

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Life in Plastic

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Across from the kitchen island, this yellow stand is used for extra storage. In the centre are the lettered cards used to create the chapel wall poems. The votive candles are another wink of religious symbolism, and the pop of greenery — like most in the space — is fake.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Life in Plastic

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Across from the kitchen island, this yellow stand is used for extra storage. In the centre are the lettered cards used to create the chapel wall poems. The votive candles are another wink of religious symbolism, and the pop of greenery — like most in the space — is fake.

Playing With Shapes

Dinner for Five

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Dinner for Five

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

The dining room set is a simple black and white colour scheme, similar to the kitchen. The chairs are from Wayfair, and Jenn chose a vintage carpet from Smash Salvage, a shop in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood, to balance out the modern feel.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Dinner for Five

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The dining room set is a simple black and white colour scheme, similar to the kitchen. The chairs are from Wayfair, and Jenn chose a vintage carpet from Smash Salvage, a shop in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood, to balance out the modern feel.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Holy Moly

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Holy Moly

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

And now, the most striking feature of the space: the light. Jenn painted the walls and floors white in hopes of allowing the colours to bounce and play off the room. The light tones shift throughout the day, giving the church a life of its own.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Holy Moly

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And now, the most striking feature of the space: the light. Jenn painted the walls and floors white in hopes of allowing the colours to bounce and play off the room. The light tones shift throughout the day, giving the church a life of its own.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Thanks, Dad

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Thanks, Dad

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Jenn’s father is a professional painter, and she flew him in from out west to paint the space a luminous white. However, in a few places, she chose to keep some of the wood its original colour, such as the hammock nook and the ceiling beams.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Thanks, Dad

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Jenn’s father is a professional painter, and she flew him in from out west to paint the space a luminous white. However, in a few places, she chose to keep some of the wood its original colour, such as the hammock nook and the ceiling beams.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Among the Trees

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Among the Trees

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Photo Credit: Lauren Kolyn

Jenn’s father also painted the exterior of the church. The building was originally white, but Jenn opted to give it a brighter coat to modernize it. The windows and doors were painted black for a stately punch. The best part: the church is a three-minute drive to the beach.

Home ToursThis 140-Year-Old Church was Purchased and Converted Into a Cozy Sanctuary for Less Than $200K

Among the Trees

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Jenn’s father also painted the exterior of the church. The building was originally white, but Jenn opted to give it a brighter coat to modernize it. The windows and doors were painted black for a stately punch. The best part: the church is a three-minute drive to the beach.